Search Result for "confidence": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (5)

1. freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
- Example: "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"
- Example: "after that failure he lost his confidence"
- Example: "she spoke with authority"
[syn: assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, authority, sureness]

2. a feeling of trust (in someone or something);
- Example: "I have confidence in our team"
- Example: "confidence is always borrowed, never owned"

3. a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable;
- Example: "public confidence in the economy"

4. a trustful relationship;
- Example: "he took me into his confidence"
- Example: "he betrayed their trust"
[syn: confidence, trust]

5. a secret that is confided or entrusted to another;
- Example: "everyone trusted him with their confidences"
- Example: "the priest could not reveal her confidences"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Confidence \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.] 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [1913 Webster] Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. --South. [1913 Webster] A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] 2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. [1913 Webster] The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii. 26. [1913 Webster] 3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. [1913 Webster] Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. --Shak. [1913 Webster] But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. [1913 Webster] Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler; several swindlers often work together to create the illusion of truth; -- also called con game. Confidence man, a swindler. To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs. Syn: Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. [1913 Webster] I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle. [1913 Webster] 2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. [1913 Webster] Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. [1913 Webster] As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. [1913 Webster] The fool rageth and is confident. --Prov. xiv. 16. [1913 Webster] 5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.] [1913 Webster] The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

confidence n 1: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities; "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with authority" [syn: assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, authority, sureness] 2: a feeling of trust (in someone or something); "I have confidence in our team"; "confidence is always borrowed, never owned" [ant: diffidence, self-distrust, self- doubt] 3: a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable; "public confidence in the economy" 4: a trustful relationship; "he took me into his confidence"; "he betrayed their trust" [syn: confidence, trust] 5: a secret that is confided or entrusted to another; "everyone trusted him with their confidences"; "the priest could not reveal her confidences"